The ancestors of the Cerfarte surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in a valley or at the foot of a hill. Cerfarte is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Cerfarte Early Origins

The surname Cerfarte was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Cerfarte Spelling Variations

Cerfarte Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cerfarte include Kerfoot, Kerford, Kerfont, Kerfut, Kerriford and many more.

Cerfarte Early History

Cerfarte Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cerfarte research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1583 and 1664 are included under the topic Early Cerfarte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cerfarte Early Notables (pre 1700)

Cerfarte Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Cerfarte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cerfarte In Ireland

Cerfarte In Ireland

Some of the Cerfarte family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Thomas Kerfitt, who settled in Virginia in 1624; and Elizabeth Kerfoote, who sailed to Virginia in 1637.

Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.

Burke, Sir Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry: Including American Families with British Ancestry. (2 Volumes). London: Burke Publishing, 1939. Print.

The Cerfarte Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Cerfarte Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.